title: After-hours Access of Convenient Care Clinics and Cost Savings Associated With Avoidance of Higher-Cost Sites of Care.
abstract: This study examines the utilization of convenient care clinic services outside of typical physician office hours and estimates the cost savings from potentially avoided visits to the emergency room, urgent care center, and primary care physician associated with convenient care clinic encounters. The results show that 44.6% of convenient care clinic visits occurred on weekdays, 5 pm or later, or on weekends. Savings from avoided encounters with the emergency room, urgent care, and primary care physician were estimated at $135.53 million.
authors.affiliation: Walgreen Co, Deerfield, Illinois.
authors.forename: Avinash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patwardhan
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Sandra Festa
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ryan
keywords: convenient care clinic; cost savings; emergency room visits; primary care physician